Población y Salud en Mesoamérica
type: channel
description: Población y Salud en Mesoamérica is an academic electronic journal, published biannually and of continued publication by the Centro Centroamericano de Población in collaboration with the Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA) and whose publisher is the University of Costa Rica. The main objective of this publication is the dissemination of research on population from demographic perspective, and public health. This journal is registered and indexed in important international indexes. E-mail contact: revista.ccp@ucr.ac.cr URL OAI-PMH: https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/psm/oai
publisher: Universidad de Costa Rica
language: en
publication name: Población y Salud en Mesoamérica
issn: 1659-0201
copyright: Population and Health in Mesoamerica informs its authors and readers that all publications must be submitted with the Letter of Acceptance of Copyright Conditions where the authors are asked for authorization to submit the article to the Journal for consideration so that it may carry out any of the following activities: The graphic and style editing of the work or part of it. The publication and reproduction of the work or part of it, both in print and electronic media, including the Internet and any other known or unknown technology. The translation of the work or part of it into any language or dialect. The adaptation of the work to reading, sound, voice and any other available technical representation or mechanism, which makes possible its access for partially or totally blind people, or with any other form of special abilities that prevent their access to the conventional reading of the article. The distribution and availability of the work to the public, in such a way that the public may have access to them from the time and place that each person chooses, through the physical or electronic mechanisms available to them. Any other form of use, process or system known or to be known that is related to the activities and editorial purposes to which the Journal is linked. You can access the Letter by clicking HERE. If you have a question, please write to revista.ccp@ucr.ac.cr In addition, the content of this site is protected under the Attribution - Noncommercial - Share Alike (by-nc-sa) license which permits commercial use of the original work or derivative works and distribution of which must be made under the same license that governs the original work. The graphic design, images and texts generated by the e-Information Science magazine are property of the Universidad de Costa Rica and are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial - Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International. Authors who publish in this journal accept the following conditions: -T…
items: ENGI educational method for promoting dietary guidelines in the community setting
items: Electronic cigarette consumption in Latin America: epidemiological and toxicological aspects
items: Using Google Trends Data to forecast homicide mortality: the case of Mexico
items: Digital media consumption preferences of adolescents and teachers as input for the design of digital educational resources on food, nutrition and healthy lifestyles of the Póngale Vida model
items: Population practices regarding bean consumption and its implications for public health in Costa Rica
items: Marginalization and life expectancy loss during the Covid-19 pandemic in Mexico, 2020
items: Domestic time use among young people in Mexico and Costa Rica: a comparative study
items: Infant mortality in Argentina: progress, provincial inequalities and associated social factors (2016-2022)
items: Variations in the use of contraceptive methods among women in the regions of Argentina according to socioeconomic status during the second decade of the 21st century
items: Predictive models of cardiovascular complications of hypertension
items: Effect of perceived discrimination on depressive symptomatology: The role of avoidant coping in an LGBTQ+ community in Peru
items: Knowledge and practices on sustainable diets in families in Monteverde, Costa Rica 2021
items: The use of artificial intelligence for teaching and learning in public health: concrete perspectives
items: Prevalence of lesions and alterations of the oral cavity in the Costa Rican population
items: Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and relationship with medical disability in Workers from a Private company in Costa Rica
items: Relationship Between Forced Migration and Complicated Acute Appendicitis in a National Referral Hospital in Peru
items: Menstrual health in indigenous Tseltal women from Pathuitz and Mequejá, in Chilón, Chiapas, Mexico
items: Use of drug therapy and complementary therapy for glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes
items: Non-motherhood in Chiapas. Indigenous women who are not mothers
items: Inequalities in the work process of Brazilian primary health care teams: a rural-urban analysis based on PMAQ-AB data
items: Border restrictions during the pandemic COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean
items: Protective variables of symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety and fear of covid-19 among colombian adults in quarantine
items: University students and racial discrimination: an analysis based on family income

ENGI educational method for promoting dietary guidelines in the community setting
type: item
description: Introduction: The School of Nutrition at the University of Costa Rica (ENu-UCR) developed the Interactive Group Nutrition Education (ENGI) method many years ago. The objective of this research is to apply the ENGI method in the community setting to promote healthy eating using dietary guidelines (GABSA-2022). Methodology: Mixed-method, cross-sectional, exploratory, and descriptive study. The population comprised nine community groups of adults and older adults from the urban area of San José (N = 141) who, as part of an ENu-UCR degree course, received the Healthy Eating course (8 sessions) taught by nine pairs of students (N = 18) under teacher supervision, from August to December 2023. Data collection was carried out using the Guide for Planning Educational Interventions, teaching plans, WhatsApp® groups, the Instrument for Monitoring Practical Performance, and two evaluation forms. Results: The ENGI method was well received by participants. The main point of improvement was the increase in the duration of each session by 30 minutes. Despite being a short intervention, 60% of participants reported changes in their daily habits after the course. It is worth reviewing the use of terms in the GABSA, as well as some topics of interest to communities. Conclusions: ENGI can function as a systematized methodology to promote healthy eating together with the use of GABSA-2022 at the community level.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: nutritional education
  topic: keywords
subject: healthy eating
  topic: keywords
subject: food guidelines
  topic: keywords
subject: health promotion
  topic: keywords
subject: community environment
  topic: keywords
creator: Rocío González-Urrutia
creator: Ofelia Flores-Castro
creator: Nadia Alvarado-Molina
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 González-Urrutia et al. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-09-18
publication date: 2025-09-18
doi: 10.15517/vsynmm25

Electronic cigarette consumption in Latin America: epidemiological and toxicological aspects
type: item
description: Introduction: The use of electronic cigarettes (ECs) has increased in Latin America, especially among youth, despite limited evidence on their long-term effects and the presence of toxic compounds in e-liquids (ELs). The objective of this study is to systematize and analyze the available scientific information on electronic cigarette use in Latin America, identifying the main health risks, consumption patterns, and regulatory gaps, with the aim of guiding future research and public policies in the region. Materials and Methods: A total of 182 scientific publications from 2014 to 2024 were reviewed across academic databases, with 60 relevant studies selected. Results: ECs contain substances that can form toxic compounds such as aldehydes and heavy metals when inhaled. Studies in animal models and humans have reported damage to the respiratory, cardiovascular, and oral systems. Their popularity among youth is linked to social media, appealing flavors, and perceived low risk. Conclusions: ECs pose health risks comparable to conventional tobacco. Stricter regulations and local research are urgently needed to protect public health, particularly among younger populations.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
  topic: keywords
subject: Toxicology
  topic: keywords
subject: Public Health
  topic: keywords
subject: Latin America
  topic: keywords
creator: Fabio Andrés Chaves-Campos
creator: Fabiana Tabash-Porras
creator: Fernando Ortíz-Morales
creator: Maripaz Castro-Murillo
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Chaves-Campos et al. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-11-12
publication date: 2025-11-12
doi: 10.15517/fvbrp698

Using Google Trends Data to forecast homicide mortality: the case of Mexico
type: item
description: Introduction: In Mexico a major public safety concern is how to predict and reduce homicides to implement effective mitigation policies. Methodology: This study aims to compare traditional forecasting models —ARIMA and Vector Autoregressive (VAR)—with and without Google Trends data, the research explores ways to enhance prediction accuracy. Using homicide records from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI, for its Spanish acronym) and Google Trends data from 2006–2020, the study highlights the integration of real-time online data to complement official statistics. Results: Considering a forecast horizon of 15 months up to March 2020, results show that VAR models with Google Trends provide the best performance for both female and male homicides. Conclusions: The findings underscore the potential of integrating digital data sources into traditional models to provide more accurate and timely tools for public safety planning and intervention.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Homicides
  topic: keywords
subject: forecasting
  topic: keywords
subject: Google Trends
  topic: keywords
subject: VAR model
  topic: keywords
creator: Eduardo Vazquez
creator: Eliud Silva
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Vazquez & Silva https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-09-24
publication date: 2025-09-24
doi: 10.15517/c57dzg81

Digital media consumption preferences of adolescents and teachers as input for the design of digital educational resources on food, nutrition and healthy lifestyles of the Póngale Vida model
type: item
description: Introduction: Nutritional Education must be adapted to digital consumption habits. Therefore, the digital media consumption preferences of students and teachers from three Professional Technical High Schools (CTP) in the Cantón of Golfito, were determined as a guiding input for the creation of digital content within the Póngale VidaⓇ model from the University of Costa Rica (UCR). Methodology: Quantitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive study conducted within the framework of the UCR-ED-3598 project. Population: Students and teachers from three CTPs, in the year 2022. Two digital questionnaires were developed to collect information on internet use, social media, digital content formats, and experience with virtual education, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: 79 teachers and 288 teenagers responded. Most people consume content using their mobile devices (96.5% and 75.9%), and the social media use ranges from three to four hours daily (30%). Students use more mobile data and consume content related to entertainment (music, movies, games, humor), both on websites and social networks. Health and nutrition topics are not among the top three preferred themes for both groups. Short videos are the favorite format. Conclusion: Health professionals must explore and learn new ways to work on health promotion with the teenager population and the teachers in charge. Nutritional education should be framed within E-Health, and M-learning should be used as one of its strategies, designing resources under the Mobile First philosophy-digital literacy- to reach this population through models such as Póngale VidaⓇ.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: nutritional education
  topic: keywords
subject: educational resources
  topic: keywords
subject: health promotion
  topic: keywords
subject: nutrition
  topic: keywords
subject: adolescents
  topic: keywords
subject: teachers
  topic: keywords
creator: Rocío González-Urrutia
creator: Xinia Fernández-Rojas
creator: Carolina Murillo -Guzmán
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 González-Urrutia et al., https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-12-19
publication date: 2025-12-19
doi: 10.15517/wpv34q98

Population practices regarding bean consumption and its implications for public health in Costa Rica
type: item
description: Introduction: The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is of great nutritional importance and high cultural and ecosystem value. However, its consumption has declined due to cultural, culinary, and family organization changes. This article aims to describe the purchasing, storage, cooking, and consumption practices of beans in Costa Rican families, in order to better understand the factors that can benefit or harm its consumption and thus enrich education and communication strategies around this staple food. Methodology: A 63-question digital questionnaire was self-administered, with a qualitative, descriptive, cross-sectional approach, and distributed through social media, seeking to reach the population throughout the national territory. The study population was adults in Costa Rica. The inclusion criteria were: being 18 years of age or older, having literacy skills, residing in Costa Rica, having internet access, and skill in using the virtual platform used. Results: Study participants preferred to buy red beans (35%). For preparation, 54% of families soaked beans before cooking, but only 19% soaked them for the appropriate amount of time, from 8 to 16 hours. More than 75% consumed beans at 2.2 meals a day. Conclusions: This study provides a description of practices related to bean consumption, which contributes to the development of educational initiatives based on current and culturally accepted practices.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: consumption practices
  topic: keywords
subject: bean preparation
  topic: keywords
subject: soaking and cooking
  topic: keywords
subject: educational campaign
  topic: keywords
creator: Nadia Alvarado Molina
creator: Shirley Rodríguez González
creator: Marcela Dumani Echandi
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Alvarado Molina et al. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-12-19
publication date: 2025-12-19
doi: 10.15517/9chem449

Marginalization and life expectancy loss during the Covid-19 pandemic in Mexico, 2020
type: item
description: Introduction: Studies have been conducted in Mexico on indicators of socioeconomic status in relation to morbidity, incidence, survival, mortality, and lethality due to Covid-19, with the exception of life expectancy (LE). This study proposes to examine LE for the year 2020 in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and to analyze its relationship with indicators of marginalization in Mexican municipalities. Methodology: LE was calculated using the standard actuarial method based on death information from the Mexican Ministry of Health. Demographic information and indicators of marginalization were obtained from the National Population Council. Correlations and risk analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between LE and marginalization indicators. A multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was performed with indicators of education, income, housing, population size and LE. Results: The effect of marginalization indicators on LE indicate that the higher the percentage of marginalization, the higher the effect on LE. The population size of the municipalities had a positive relationship with LE, that is, the larger the population size, the greater the loss in years of LE. MCA reveals clear territorial polarization of well-being and longevity in Mexican municipalities, with educational attainment, income and population size remaining key determinants of LE. Conclusion: These results suggest that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on LE was greater in populations with larger communities and, at the same time, the highest percentage of marginalization indicators was found in populations with smaller size.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Covid-19
  topic: keywords
subject: life expectancy
  topic: keywords
subject: marginalization indicators
  topic: keywords
subject: municipalities
  topic: keywords
creator: Felipe J. Uribe Salas
creator: Gerardo Núñez-Medina
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Uribe Salas & Núñez-Medina https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-11-12
publication date: 2025-11-12
doi: 10.15517/y4fnkz62

Domestic time use among young people in Mexico and Costa Rica: a comparative study
type: item
description: Introduction: Gender differences in time use among adults are well documented worldwide; however, there is a clear gap regarding certain life stages, such as adolescence and young single adulthood. Objective: To study time use patterns by sex among the population aged 15 to 24 in two Latin American countries, Mexico and Costa Rica. The study also examines individual factors that may influence participation in these activities. Methodology: National time use surveys from Mexico (2019) and Costa Rica (2022) were analyzed to estimate indicators on domestic, paid, educational, caregiving, and leisure activities, as well as to fit Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) models. Results: Gender inequalities persist among the population aged 15 to 24 in Mexico and Costa Rica; women devote more time to domestic work, while men spend more time in paid employment. School and labor market participation reduce women’s domestic workload, but gaps remain, highlighting the influence of factors such as country and activity status in time use patterns. Conclusions: Women are systematically assigned domestic tasks from adolescence, contributing to the internalization of traditional gender roles and expectations.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: domestic work
  topic: keywords
subject: adolescents and young people
  topic: keywords
subject: gender roles
  topic: keywords
subject: time use
  topic: keywords
creator: Elsa Ortiz-Ávila
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Ortiz-Ávila https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-11-12
publication date: 2025-11-12
doi: 10.15517/9ktnd444

Infant mortality in Argentina: progress, provincial inequalities and associated social factors (2016-2022)
type: item
description: Introduction: Mortality in the first months of life is a key demographic indicator for the analysis of socioeconomic development, which in the Argentine case reflects large provincial asymmetries due to socioeconomic, health and environmental factors. Objectives: This article analyzes the evolution of infant mortality rates (IMR) in Argentina in a recent time frame (2016-2022) and examines the social and environmental factors associated with its prevalence at the provincial level. Methodology: A longitudinal ecological study using birth and death data from the National Ministry of Health and the Permanent Household Survey (Total Urbano, INDEC). Annual rates and provincial coefficients of variation were calculated, and multiple linear regression models were applied to estimate associations with socioeconomic variables and basic infrastructure. Results: The IMR showed a downward trend, with persistent regional inequalities. The lowest rates were recorded in the south (Tierra del Fuego, Neuquén), and the highest in the northeast (Formosa, Corrientes). Neonatal mortality was mainly associated with maternal age, quality of health infrastructure, and exposure to flood zones, while postneonatal mortality was more closely associated with maternal educational level, access to mains gas, and sanitation conditions. In both cases, better basic services were associated with lower rates. Conclusions: The incorporation of housing and basic services indicators into the analysis of infant mortality provides novel evidence for Argentina. Political policies to improve health infrastructure are required to reduce territorial asymmetries.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: infant mortality
  topic: keywords
subject: geographic locations
  topic: keywords
subject: socioeconomic factors
  topic: keywords
creator: Nazarena Bauso
creator: Fernando L onghi
creator: Ianina Tuñón
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Bauso et al. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-10-28
publication date: 2025-10-28
doi: 10.15517/w24q2a87

Variations in the use of contraceptive methods among women in the regions of Argentina according to socioeconomic status during the second decade of the 21st century
type: item
description: Introduction: The objective was to analyze the changes in contraceptive use among women aged 15 to 49 in the regions of Argentina during the periods 2011-2012 and 2019-2020, with particular attention to the group of women aged 15 to 19, and to differentiate the female population by socioeconomic strata. Methodology: In this quantitative study, a comparison was made of the prevalence of contraceptive use among the female population aged 15 to 49 and in the subgroup of adolescents aged 15 to 19 in the regions of Argentina, according to wealth quintiles. The sources of information were the MICS Surveys on Girls, Boys, and Adolescents of Argentina from 2011-2012 and 2019-2020. Results: During the studied periods, Argentina and its regions showed statistically significant increases in the use of at least one contraceptive method. These increases were especially notable in the lower strata of the Northwest (NOA) and Northeast Argentina (NEA), as well as in the higher wealth quintiles of Patagonia and Pampeana. Among women aged 15-49, the modern methods that showed the greatest increases in use were tubal ligation, subdermal implants, and injectable contraceptives, and among adolescents, subdermal implants. Conclusions: It is hypothesized that the increase in contraceptive use is related to the sexual and reproductive health policies implemented in the 21st century, such
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Contraceptive methods
  topic: keywords
subject: Argentine women
  topic: keywords
subject: sexual and reproductive health
  topic: keywords
creator: Víctor Francisco Loyola
creator: Enrique Peláez
creator: Laura Débora Acosta
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Loyola et al. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-10-27
publication date: 2025-10-27
doi: 10.15517/0kj39m94

Predictive models of cardiovascular complications of hypertension
type: item
description: Introduction: The predictors of cardiovascular complications of hypertension can be diverse, highlighting older age, precarious social, economic and personal conditions, as well as body conditions, susceptible to modification with comprehensive health interventions. Objective: To predict cardiovascular complications of hypertension in users of a Peruvian public hospital using models. Methodology: The research was analytical, predictive, cross-sectional, with retrospective data collection. 303 patients who attended the Cajamarca Regional Hospital during 2022 were investigated. Sociodemographic data and data on cardiovascular complications of hypertension were obtained from the data stored by the hospital. Descriptive statistics included absolute and relative frequencies, confidence intervals, mean and dispersion measures, and predictive models were performed using binary logistic regression and Cohen's Kappa Index, with a statistical significance of p<0.05. Results: The most frequent cardiovascular complication was heart failure (49.5%). The model for heart failure predicts 70.6% and the years of diagnosis, occupation and marital status are included in the equation, for atrial fibrillation it predicts 82.2% and the equation includes age, sex, years of diagnosis, level of education and marital status and for angina pectoris it predicts 84.8% and the equation includes age, sex and years of diagnosis. Conclusions: The models created for the cardiovascular complications of hypertension have good predictive capacity, therefore, accurate and efficient performance in the predictor variables will allow favorable control of the complications of the disease.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: insuficiencia cardíaca
  topic: keywords
subject: fibrilación atrial
  topic: keywords
subject: angina de pecho
  topic: keywords
subject: hipertensión
  topic: keywords
creator: Karen Roxana Longa Ortiz
creator: Luz Elita Vergara Cieza
creator: José Ander Asenjo-Alarcón
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 José Ander Asenjo-Alarcón, Karen Roxana Longa Ortiz, Luz Elita Vergara Cieza (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-10-21
publication date: 2025-10-21
doi: 10.15517/8j9f6m55

Effect of perceived discrimination on depressive symptomatology: The role of avoidant coping in an LGBTQ+ community in Peru
type: item
description: He study examines the mediating role of avoidant coping in the relationship between perceived discrimination and depressive symptomatology among 159 members of an LGBTQ+ community in a city in Peru, aged 18 to 52 years (M=28.24, SD=7.85). The Perceived Discrimination Scale in the LGBTQ+ Community by González-Rivera and Pabellón-Lebrón (2018), Spielberger’s (2008) State-Trait Depression Inventory (IDER), and Carver et al.’s (1989) avoidant coping dimension were administered. The results indicate that the mediation models analyzed are satisfactory (CFI=1.00; SRMR<.060). Individual discrimination has a positive effect on state depression (β=.14, p<.05) and trait depression (β=.15, p<.05); similarly, group discrimination has a positive effect on state depression (β=.24, p<.05) and trait depression (β=.20, p<.05). Avoidant coping mediates the relationship between both forms of discrimination and state and trait depression (β>.15, p<.05), confirming the mediation hypotheses. The study confirms that avoidant coping plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between perceived discrimination and depressive symptomatology in members of the LGBTQ+ community in Peru. These findings highlight the importance of addressing coping strategies to mitigate the negative impact of discrimination on the mental health of this population.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Perceived discrimination
  topic: keywords
subject: avoidant coping
  topic: keywords
subject: depression
  topic: keywords
subject: LGBTQ+ community
  topic: keywords
creator: Fredy Y. Dionicio-Pinto
creator: Gutember V. Peralta-Eugenio
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Dionicio-Pinto & Peralta-Eugenio https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-09-30
publication date: 2025-09-30
doi: 10.15517/t4gwtr53

Knowledge and practices on sustainable diets in families in Monteverde, Costa Rica 2021
type: item
description: Introduction: Education for sustainability aims to promote decision-making and actions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To promote sustainable diets, a diagnostic analysis is key to identifying demographic characteristics, practices, knowledge, and opinions of the target population. This information is necessary for the formulation of a contextualized and timely educational strategy that can influence eating behaviors. In this sense, the objective of this study is to analyze the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of local families regarding sustainable diets. Methodology: Descriptive study with a mixed approach involving 23 families from the Monteverde district. Results: The majority of interviewees recognize the influence of food on the environment and the community's economy. However, there is a need to reinforce the role of consumers in the transformation of food systems, with the purpose of encouraging norms and values through critical thinking and reflection, which can motivate the adoption of more sustainable diets. In some cases, the knowledge did not reflect in the practices carried out. Conclusions: Considering the need for sustainability education to be contextualized, this diagnosis should be used as the starting point to inform about the principles of sustainable eating and facilitate the development of competencies, with the goal of helping participants create their own action plan to adopt a sustainable diet.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: environmental knowledge
  topic: keywords
subject: environmental practices
  topic: keywords
subject: sustainable diet
  topic: keywords
subject: education for sustainability
  topic: keywords
creator: María Rebeca Del Valle-Alvarado
creator: Shirley Rodríguez González
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Del Valle-Alvarado & Rodríguez González https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-08-20
publication date: 2025-08-20
doi: 10.15517/d53bwq74

The use of artificial intelligence for teaching and learning in public health: concrete perspectives
type: item
description: Introduction: The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) arises with the potential to collaborate with Education and Science, transiting between a dialectical matrix of aggrandizement of the action of learning and teaching through the optimization of its processes, but it also presents challenges for this teaching-learning relationship in the field of Collective Health, due to the way this technology can be used and the lack of regulation that accompanies its rapid development. Study proposal: To analyze the use of Artificial Intelligence in the teaching-learning process in the field of Collective Health, by students and educators, from a dialectical perspective. Discussion: This is a critical-reflective theoretical essay, presented in two problematized axes, namely: the concrete context of teaching-learning in the face of the use of AI in Collective Health: Challenges about its use in teaching-learning in Collective Health; and the relationship between the new and the fetish about its use in the future of Collective Health. Final Considerations: It is concluded that the use of Artificial Intelligence cannot be denied as a tactic to achieve a dialectic of teaching-learning-teaching-learning, however, its use needs to overcome the barriers of irrational instrumentality due to the absence of reflection and criticism, essential attitudes for the field of Collective Health, avoiding the destructive traps of alienated activity/work.
subject: Essays
  topic: section
subject: Artificial Intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: teaching
  topic: keywords
subject: collective health
  topic: keywords
creator: Jéssica Araújo Carvalho
creator: João Henrique Cordeiro
creator: Allan Cruz da Silva
creator: Israel Coutinho Sampaio Lima
creator: José Jackson Coelho Sampaio
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Araújo Carvalho et al. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-08-27
publication date: 2025-08-27
doi: 10.15517/1ed6ef36

Prevalence of lesions and alterations of the oral cavity in the Costa Rican population
type: item
description: Introduction: To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of diseases of the oral cavity in the Costa Rican population, including the clinical profile of affected patients. Methodology: A cross-sectional, descriptive, and quantitative study was conducted using medical records from patients diagnosed and treated at a Stomatology Center in Heredia, Costa Rica, between January 2020 and December 2022. Only cases with definitive diagnoses (clinical, histopathological, or radiographic) were included. Data were extracted from complete records, categorized by lesion type and anatomical location, and analyzed by sex and age group to identify frequency patterns. Results: A total of 1,410 patients were evaluated. The majority were women (62%) with 33.4% of cases in the 41–60 age group. Regarding men, the most affected group was 21–40 years. Traumatic lesions were the most frequent (33%), followed by benign neoplasms (11.1%) and potentially malignant disorders (10%). Fibrous hyperplasia was the most frequent lesion (n101), followed by squamous papilloma (n87), leukoplakia (n66) and squamous cell carcinoma (n55). Soft tissues were the most affected (80.5%), with the tongue being the most common site (23.4%), followed by the gingiva (21.5%) and the lips (13.7%). Conclusions: This study systematically classified and quantified oral lesions in a defined clinical population, generating the most comprehensive epidemiological dataset of its kind in Costa Rica. The findings offer extrapolatable data for academic research, clinical training, and public health policy, helping to improve early diagnosis, prevention strategies, and the management of oral conditions, especially those with malignant potential, across diverse sectors of the population.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: oral cancer
  topic: keywords
subject: oral medicine
  topic: keywords
subject: oral pathology
  topic: keywords
creator: Roberto Gerber-Mora
creator: Marcio-Ajudarte Lopes
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Gerber-Mora & Lopes https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-08-27
publication date: 2025-08-27
doi: 10.15517/89g9kk31

Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and relationship with medical disability in Workers from a Private company in Costa Rica
type: item
description: Introduction: The health status of employees influences productivity and absenteeism in the workplace. In Costa Rica, no studies exploring the relationship between the work environment and employee health were found. Methodology: This study employed a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional approach. The population consisted of workers from a private company in Costa Rica, with a sample size of 92 merchandisers. The study variables included lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, insulin levels, anthropometric data, age, and disabilities. Logistic regression models were used to observe the effect of fasting blood glucose, altered blood pressure, and worker’s nutritional status on the quantification of the risk of work disability. Additionally, the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was performed (statistical significance p≤0.05). Results: The sample had an average age of 34±7.7 years, and over 75% were overweight to some degree. A significant association (p<0.04) was found between triglyceride levels and HDL cholesterol (p<0.02) with age. It was determined that for each unit increase in glucose, the risk of disability increased 7% (OR: 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.14), significantly. Conclusions: In this population, most risk factors occur independently of age, which is a cause for concern. Individuals with altered fasting blood glucose have a higher risk of disability compared to those without this factor.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Obesity Management
  topic: keywords
subject: Nutritional Status
  topic: keywords
subject: working conditions
  topic: keywords
subject: Feeding Behavior
  topic: keywords
creator: Joselyn Arce Marenco
creator: Cindy Hidalgo Víquez
creator: Tatiana Martínez Jaikel
creator: Glenda Villalobos Fallas
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Arce Marenco et al., https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-09-30
publication date: 2025-09-30
doi: 10.15517/sta30d86

Relationship Between Forced Migration and Complicated Acute Appendicitis in a National Referral Hospital in Peru
type: item
description: Introduction: Acute Appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies both globally and nationally, with various factors potentially leading to greater complications. This study aims to determine the association between complicated acute appendicitis and forced migration in adults treated at a referral hospital in Peru between 2020 and 2024. Methodology: A quantitative, observational, cross-sectional, analytical, and retrospective study was conducted on a population of patients over 18 years old diagnosed with acute appendicitis. The sample included 690 patients, analyzed according to clinical, demographic, and laboratory variables. Results: The findings showed a significant association between forced migration and complicated acute appendicitis (CAA). The mean age of the patients was 46.11 ± 10.5 years, with a predominance of males (52.9%) and adults (88.4%) in the migrant group, where 73.2% presented CAA. Additionally, forced migration was significantly associated with CAA (adjusted prevalence ratio: 1.14; p = 0.023), as well as a neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥ 7.4 and an Alvarado score > 7.5. Conclusions: The results suggest that forced migration is a significant risk factor for the development of complicated acute appendicitis, possibly due to barriers in healthcare access and delayed diagnosis. Therefore, it is recommended to strengthen strategies to improve medical care for migrant populations and reduce these health disparities.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: appendicitis
  topic: keywords
subject: forced migration
  topic: keywords
subject: risk factors
  topic: keywords
creator: Gloria María Delgado Montaño
creator: Juan Carlos Roque Quezada
creator: Horus Michael Virú Flores
creator: Anne Natalia Medina Jiménez
creator: Valeria Angele Barturen Julca
creator: Moisés Joel Román Yrigoín
creator: Robert Ricardo Vega Vega
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Delgado Montaño et al. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-09-30
publication date: 2025-09-30
doi: 10.15517/rckat816

Menstrual health in indigenous Tseltal women from Pathuitz and Mequejá, in Chilón, Chiapas, Mexico
type: item
description: Introduction: In Mexico, menstruation is not even listed in official statistics, perpetuating the taboo, fear and ignorance on the subject, even more so in indigenous populations living in extreme poverty. Our objective was to analyze the menstrual experiences of young and adult women of the Tseltal indigenous communities of Pathuitz and Mequejá in Chilón, Chiapas, considering the definition of Menstrual Health of the “The Global Menstrual Collective's Terminology Action Group” under the focus of gender and feminist health. Methodology: Qualitative methodology promoting the co-research with the association “Asociación Yip Yatel Tseltal Ansetic A.C.” defending the participation of indigenous women as collaborators and researchers. We analyze the menstrual experience of 17 Tseltal women, and the perception of 4 men through semi-structured interviews and activist participatory observation and from situated knowledge. Results: Challenges for Tseltal women in living a healthy menstruation: a) precarious information about menstruation and experiences of fear and shame, b) economic difficulty to acquire menstrual management products, c) restriction of their activities, d) pain, disorders and lack of awareness of the menstrual cycle, e) limited access to medical services. We also analyze the water services, sanitation and hygiene systems at home and schools, and the acceptance of reusable cloth sanitary pads as an option adapted to the context. Conclusion: women have opened up about the topic for the first time, generating interest to know about menstruation, the body and menstrual cycle. They have successfully adopted the use of reusable cloth sanitary pads, given they save money, feel comfortable and are able to leave the house.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: menstrual health
  topic: keywords
subject: tseltal women
  topic: keywords
subject: gender and health
  topic: keywords
subject: reusable cloth pads
  topic: keywords
subject: menstrual stigma
  topic: keywords
creator: Adriana Marcela Vega-Barrero
creator: Georgina Sánchez-Ramírez
creator: Isabela Pérez-Méndez
creator: Jorge Urdapilleta-Carrasco
creator: Limbania Vázquez-Nava
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Vega-Barrero et al. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-08-27
publication date: 2025-08-27
doi: 10.15517/sz8v4f72

Use of drug therapy and complementary therapy for glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes
type: item
description: Many patients turn to complementary treatments (CT) when they do not see a positive result with the use of pharmacological treatments (PT) given by the physician for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Objectives: To determine the influence of the use of pharmacological and complementary treatment on glycemic control in adults with T2D. Methodology: The study design was correlational-descriptive. In adults with DT2 using TF (n=95) and TC (n=95). The glycated hemoglobin test was performed, the CTFA-5-DT2 questionnaire was used and the regulations of the general health law on research were adhered to. Results: A relationship was found in the use of TF and TC with glycemic control (rs .390, p= <0.01; rs= .275, p= <0.01). A multiple linear regression model was performed, showing a statistical significance of .003 (F= 3.12), an explained variance of 8.2% (R2= 0.82); the significant variables explained were marital status (β= .27, p= .001) and CT use (β= -2.63, p= .009). Conclusions: The use of TF and TC does influence glycemic control, people with DT2 using TC showed better glycemic control compared to those using only TF.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: complementary treatment
  topic: keywords
subject: type 2 diabetes
  topic: keywords
subject: glycemic control strategies
  topic: keywords
subject: phytotherapy
  topic: keywords
creator: Luis Antonio Mancillas-Berrelleza
creator: Patricia Enedina Miranda-Félix
creator: Milton Carlos Guevara-Valtier
creator: Rosario Edith Ortiz-Félix
creator: Jessica Jazmín Leyva-Perea
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Mancillas-Berrelleza et al., https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-08-27
publication date: 2025-08-27
doi: 10.15517/dx63hy98

Non-motherhood in Chiapas. Indigenous women who are not mothers
type: item
description: Introduction: In Chiapas, one of the states in Mexico with the highest proportion of indigenous population, non-motherhood has historically been more frequent among indigenous women, but its exercise has not been sufficiently documented. Methodology: Based on the descriptive analysis of Census information, the socioeconomic and health conditions in which indigenous non-motherhood is carried out in Chiapas are explored. As well as the particularities that it could have with respect to non-motherhood exercised by non-indigenous women. Indigenous people of the entity and the country. Results: Indigenous non-motherhood in Chiapas was presented as a growing trend whose proportions exceeded state and national values in the four decades analyzed, finding singleness as a relevant element that is not explained by migratory factors or any population imbalance. It is practiced under adverse socioeconomic conditions. It is also observed when women have a disability. Conclusions: The coexistence of different forms and conditions of non-motherhood is observed: 1) with high education and economic activity, practiced out basically by non-indigenous women; 2) without schooling and without economic activity, more common among indigenous women, occurring in a higher proportion in Chiapas; and 3) without schooling and with economic activity, with relevant proportions among indigenous women, mainly from Chiapas. The relationship between the absence of children and disabilities shows an important aspect of exclusion among childless women that needs to be observed in greater detail in studies on non-motherhood in Mexico.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Childless
  topic: keywords
subject: non-motherhood
  topic: keywords
subject: singleness
  topic: keywords
subject: nulliparity
  topic: keywords
creator: Bárbara Carolina Linares Bravo
creator: Austreberta Nazar Beutelspacher
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Linares Bravo & Nazar Beutelspacher https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-08-05
publication date: 2025-08-05
doi: 10.15517/acqgjg17

Inequalities in the work process of Brazilian primary health care teams: a rural-urban analysis based on PMAQ-AB data
type: item
description: Objective: To evaluate the work process of Primary Health Care teams in Brazil, based on the rural/urban typology defined by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Method: This is a cross-sectional evaluative study with a quantitative and analytical approach, based on secondary data from the third cycle of the National Program for Improving Access and Quality of Primary Care (PMAQ-AB), conducted between 2017 and 2018. A total of 37,350 Primary Health Care (PHC) teams (96.1% of those approved for participation) were analyzed. The study focused on two analytical axes: (1) territorialization and (2) team planning. Data were processed using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), which enabled the identification of patterns in the organization of work processes based on municipal typology. Results: The study revealed important disparities across municipal strata. Adjacent rural municipalities had the lowest percentage of teams with uncovered populations (21.0%), while urban and remote intermediate municipalities showed the highest rates (42.0% and 43.6%, respectively). Regarding planning, 15.1% of teams reported not conducting planning activities, with the lowest proportions found in remote municipalities. The MCA perceptual maps identified three main clusters, showing the concentration of positive organizational attributes in intermediate adjacent municipalities and weaker work processes in remote areas. Conclusion: The organization of PHC teams' work processes varies significantly according to the rural/urban classification of municipalities. These findings reinforce the need for territorialized policies and differentiated support strategies to strengthen PHC performance in diverse Brazilian contexts.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Primary Health Care
  topic: keywords
subject: Public Health
  topic: keywords
subject: Community Health Planning
  topic: keywords
subject: Health Care Process Assessmen
  topic: keywords
subject: Rural Health Services
  topic: keywords
creator: Messias Lemos
creator: Carlos Leonardo Figueiredo Cunha
creator: Helder Henrique Costa Pinheiro
creator: Maria do Socorro Castelo Branco de Oliveira Bastos
creator: Naiza Nayla Bandeira de Sá
creator: Átila Augusto Cordeiro Pereira
creator: Glenda Roberta Oliveira Naiff Ferreira
creator: José Luís Guedes dos Santos
creator: Luciano Garcia Lourenção
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Lemos et al. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-07-18
publication date: 2025-07-18
doi: 10.15517/b0tt4464

Border restrictions during the pandemic COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean
type: item
description: Introduction: This study analyzed the effect of travel restrictions, including closure of borders and the cancellation of international flights in Latin America and the Caribbean, as one of the early measures implemented to control the spread of COVID-19 virus. Methodology: Literature review examining governmental and scientific databases as well as news-press publications. The material obtained was organized according to the dates of the first cases of COVID-19, notifications informing closure of borders, flights suspension, and travel rebound. The data was crosschecked with the reports of the passengers stranded in Latin American countries highlighting governments' roles in response to the pandemic. Results: Travel restrictions and border control measures affected several passengers returning to their country of origin and/or legal residence. Passengers experienced overwhelming challenges impacting their socioeconomic status, families, health, and employment. Discrimination was also a topic addressed. Many citizens of Latin American countries stranded in various Latin American regions were forced to restructure their travel plans and spend several months in places other than their homes. Conclusions: The early measures had several unintended consequences in the lives of countless individuals, despite their effectiveness in decreasing the transmission of the virus
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: COVID-19
  topic: keywords
subject: Travel medicine
  topic: keywords
subject: Travel restriction
  topic: keywords
subject: Non-pharmacological intervention
  topic: keywords
creator: Miguel Gallegos
creator: Mauricio Cervigni
creator: Pedro Sotomayor
creator: Julio Torales
creator: Pablo Martino
creator: Julio César Abarca-Cordero
creator: Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Gallegos et al. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-07-01
publication date: 2025-07-01
doi: 10.15517/9nq75y88

Protective variables of symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety and fear of covid-19 among colombian adults in quarantine
type: item
description: Introduction: This study examined whether social support (measured with the MOS) and perceived meaning of life (PIL Test) could be related to a lower frequency of symptoms of depression (PHQ-9), generalized anxiety (GAD-7) and fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S), among Colombian adults in quarantine. Methodology: This study was conducted using a quantitative approach, implementing a descriptive, cross-sectional and comparative design. Participated 305 persons from 19 to 71 years old (74.4% women). Linear regressions by steps were implemented, examining the effect of age and sex. Results: The total scores or some subscale of the MOS and the PIL Test explained 54% of the variance of the PHQ-9, 38.3% of the variance of the GAD-7 and 14.4 % of the variance of FCV-19S, presenting the sex and the age significant coefficients in almost all the resulting models. Women obtained significantly higher scores (p≤.05) in fear of COVID-19. Conclusions: These results indicate that an improvement in social support and the sense of life could constitute protective factors of these symptoms in quarantine.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: COVID-19
  topic: keywords
subject: social support
  topic: keywords
subject: meaning of life
  topic: keywords
subject: quarantine
  topic: keywords
subject: major depression
  topic: keywords
subject: generalized anxiety
  topic: keywords
creator: César Armando Rey Anacona
creator: Eliana Marcela Ocampo Rojas
creator: Jessica Estefanía Cuervo García
creator: Miguel Gallegos
creator: Mauricio Cervigni
creator: Pablo Martino
creator: Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 César Armando Rey Anacona, Eliana Marcela Ocampo Rojas, Jessica Estefanía Cuervo García, Miguel Gallegos, Mauricio Cervigni, Pablo Martino, Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-07-03
publication date: 2025-07-03
doi: 10.15517/gep7ye81

University students and racial discrimination: an analysis based on family income
type: item
description: Introduction: Racial discrimination is a complex problem that directly affects the experience of university students, impacting not only their academic performance, but also their mental health and well-being. Objective: To discuss the characteristics of racial discrimination and its interfaces with the family income of university students. Methodology: A descriptive, exploratory, cross-sectional study was conducted, with a sample of 751 university students from the state of Ceará, Brazil. The instruments used were a sociodemographic questionnaire and the discrimination experience scale. Results: Among the students, 36.9% had a family income of between 1 and 2 salaries. With regard to discrimination because of their race or color, those with an income of less than one minimum wage were the ones who experienced this the most, 39.9%. The place of occurrence with the highest exposure for those with an income of less than one minimum wage was school, 37.5%. Conclusion: The results suggest that there is a direct relationship between family income and racial discrimination: the lower the income, the greater the exposure to racial discrimination. There is an urgent need to implement strategies to protect and support those who experience racial discrimination.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Racism
  topic: keywords
subject: Universities
  topic: keywords
subject: Socio-economic factors
  topic: keywords
subject: Students
  topic: keywords
creator: Eliany Nazaré Oliveira
creator: Vitoria Kethly Farrapo da Silva
creator: Paulo Cesar de Almeida
creator: Paulo Jorge de Almeida Pereira
creator: Maristela Inês Osawa Vasconcelos
creator: Gleisson Ferreira Lima
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Nazaré Oliveira et al. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2025-07-03
publication date: 2025-07-03
doi: 10.15517/1krp6v38