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: Analysis of food waste in food services at the University of Costa Rica: did anything change post-pandemic?
items: Limiting and protective factors affecting the availability of local beans in Santa Ana, Costa Rica
items: Violences Engaged In Community, Family And Institutional Networks Experienced By Women Who Consume Drugs And Alcohol During Their Treatments. In Four Regions Of Chile
items: Sociodemographic determinants that influence quality of life in three municipalities in Colombia
items: Does Happiness Drive Fertility? Evidence from eleven countries
items: Epidemiological and conjunctural characterization of violence in Brazil from 2011 to 2020
items: Epidemiological profile of tuberculosis in the prison population of Minas Gerais, Brazil
items: Bioavailability of phosphorus in food and its effect in chronic kidney disease
items: Epidemiological analysis of Aids cases in Southeastern Brazil from 2010 to 2019
items: Trajectories of frailty and related factors of elderly people in Mexico
items: Effectiveness of «Universal Newborn Hearing Screening program» of Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social, in detecting deafness in children, from 2016 to 2018
items: Excess mortality in Mexico 2020: a preliminary estimate at national and state level
items: Prenatal care and social determinants: ecological study in Argentina
items: A public policy proposal: organ donation culture program in Morelia, Michoacán, México
items: The impact of the antibiotic resistance on the sustainable development
items: Presentation
items: Editorial: Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud 45 years caring for Costa Rica
items: Capacity of the foods included in the Basic Tax Basket of Costa Rica to satisfy the nutritional requirements of the quintile with less incomes
items: Precarious Work and Health Care among Working-Class Men in Buenos Aires, Argentina
items: Social Return on the investment of the elimination of the vertical transmission of Chagas, HIV / AIDS, HB and Syphilis: Case of a Municipality of the Province of Buenos Aires
items: Impact in the integral health of the workers the area technology of the information who make home office during Covid -19
items: (Ine)quality in Healthcare: a perspective from the accreditation of clinical laboratories in Costa Rica
items: Health as a social representation: The phenomenon of health within the daily life of nicaraguan migrants in Costa Rica
items: Inequalities in the early detection of cervical cancer: a reality in the Costa Rica
items: Exploratory multigroup structural equation modeling approach to analyzing H. pylori infection, serological pepsinogen levels, and life style factors in an elderly population in Costa Rica.
items: Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen concentrations in an elderly population representative of Costa Rica
items: Joint responsibility in health as the basis for an inter-institutional action plan: Addressing overweight and obesity in a Costa Rican population
items: Identification of chromosomal aberrations in a Costa Rican children population with idiopathicintellectual disability
items: Micronucleus assay as biomarker of DNA damage in population exposed to ionizing radiation
items: Circulation of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli associated virulence genes in Costa Rican Great Metropolitan Area wastewaters

Analysis of food waste in food services at the University of Costa Rica: did anything change post-pandemic?
type: item
description: Introduction: Food waste in food services (FS) has environmental, economic, and social implications. Since 2018, the University of Costa Rica (UCR) has implemented actions to measure and reduce waste in its FS, although the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted these efforts. This study analyzed food waste in the FS of the Rodrigo Facio campus after the pandemic and compared it with previous measurements (2018-2019) to establish mitigation strategies. Methodology: A quantitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was conducted in four FS of UCR. Three measurements were carried out in the FS, evaluating the areas of storage, production, service, and plate waste. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's test to determine statistical significance (p ≤ 0.05). Results: Significant differences in waste were observed, but not in the production of FS in 2023. FS N2 had over 10% of food waste. The highest food waste was observed on served plates in all cases. A 52% decrease in daily food production was identified in 2023 compared to 2019, suggesting a lower influx of users post-pandemic. It was determined that most FS have significantly reduced waste over time. Conclusions: Waste on served plates remains the greatest challenge. The data obtained contributes to the construction of the national food waste indicator and pave the way for the implementation of reduction strategies in these FS.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Food Waste
  topic: keywords
subject: University Food Services
  topic: keywords
subject: University of Costa Rica
  topic: keywords
subject: Post-Pandemic
  topic: keywords
subject: National indicator
  topic: keywords
creator: Cindy Hidalgo-Víquez
creator: Marcela Peña-Vásquez
creator: Natalia Valverde-Vindas
creator: Emmanuel Delgado-Larios
creator: Marjorie Muñoz-Vega
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Hidalgo-Víquez et al. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2026-07-27
publication date: 2026-07-27
doi: 10.15517/ca0fcb61

Limiting and protective factors affecting the availability of local beans in Santa Ana, Costa Rica
type: item
description: Due to the lack of information on the effects of gentrification on agriculture in Santa Ana, specifically regarding the availability of local beans, the present study aimed to analyze the relationship between gentrification processes and local bean availability in Santa Ana, Costa Rica. During 2022 and 2023, 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted using a qualitative approach with residents of the canton who cultivate beans to examine the availability of local beans. The main findings reveal a decline in the availability of local beans due to market pressures, climate change, and access to agricultural inputs. Despite these challenges, municipal efforts have been crucial in strengthening the coordination among producers and ensuring the local availability of beans. The study concludes that the unregulated expansion of commercial and residential projects has reduced the land available for bean cultivation in Santa Ana; therefore, impacting Food Security and Nutrition and limiting local access to this local food.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: gentrification
  topic: keywords
subject: food and nutritional security
  topic: keywords
subject: Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
  topic: keywords
creator: Alma Gamboa-Hall
creator: Nadia Alvarado
creator: Vanessa Villalobos Ramos
creator: Raquel Hernández-Cordero
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Alma Gamboa-Hall, Nadia Alvarado, Vanessa Villalobos Ramos, Raquel Hernández-Cordero (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2026-07-27
publication date: 2026-07-27
doi: 10.15517/sv4e4n76

Violences Engaged In Community, Family And Institutional Networks Experienced By Women Who Consume Drugs And Alcohol During Their Treatments. In Four Regions Of Chile
type: item
description: This article presents part of a research study conducted in four regions of Chile on the strategies implemented by technical-professional health teams who work with women participating in Outpatient Alcohol and/or Drug Programs (PAI-M). These women carry a social stigma that generates multiple forms of violence throughout their life trajectories. The aim of this article is to describe the forms of violence interwoven within network, community, family, and institutional practices through the voices of women users of the programs, technical-professional teams, and key actors, in order to propose intervention recommendations. Methodology: This qualitative research, guided by a phenomenological approach, included four group interviews with technical-professional teams, 18 individual interviews with women participating in PAI-M programs across the four regions, and 12 interviews with key institutional stakeholders at national and regional levels. Thematic content analysis was applied using NVivo software. Results: The findings show that a significant number of women experience violence within institutional, community, and family networks—an issue that also affects the technical-professional teams accompanying them. The study concludes that these networks reproduce patterns of structural, cultural, and direct violence, normalized through gender stereotypes associated with women’s problematic substance use. These dynamics affect both the women’s treatment processes and the work of the PAI-M teams. The article recommends developing technical guidelines that ensure respectful, safe, and violence-free experiences, incorporating all network actors to improve coordination and support management.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Drug and alcohol use
  topic: keywords
subject: Gender-based violence
  topic: keywords
subject: Community networks
  topic: keywords
subject: Institutional networks
  topic: keywords
creator: Mónica Palacios Tolvett
creator: Mónica Diaz
creator: Gloria Silva Espinosa
creator: Carolina Frias Torrejon
creator: Tamara Palomino Araneda
creator: Maira Arriagada Solís
creator: María de los Ángeles Guajardo Latorre
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Mónica Palacios Tolvett, Mónica Diaz, Gloria Silva Espinosa, Carolina Frias Torrejon, Tamara Palomino Araneda, Maira Arriagada Solís, María de los Ángeles Guajardo Latorre (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2026-07-22
publication date: 2026-07-22
doi: 10.15517/js1tra54

Sociodemographic determinants that influence quality of life in three municipalities in Colombia
type: item
description: Introduction: Quality of life is a multidimensional construct that encompasses different aspects of human life. It is related to individuals’ sense of well-being and their degree of life satisfaction. The aim of this study was to analyze sociodemographic determinants and their influence on quality of life in three municipalities in Colombia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 1,147 participants from three cities. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the WHOQOL-BREF instrument were administered to assess quality of life. Descriptive statistics, a normality test, and Spearman’s correlation coefficient were used for data analysis. Results: A greater proportion of participants perceived their quality of life as good in the physical (60.5%) and psychological (52.7%) domains. Lower scores were observed in the social relationships and environmental domains. Significant associations were found across all four quality of life domains, primarily with age, educational level, and socioeconomic status. Conclusions: These findings indicate that certain sociodemographic variables are key determinants of individuals’ perceptions of their quality of life.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: quality of life
  topic: keywords
subject: sociodemographic determinants
  topic: keywords
subject: WHOQOL-BREF
  topic: keywords
subject: colombian population
  topic: keywords
creator: Alexandra Marcela Canchala Obando
creator: Yenny Vicky Paredes-Arturo
creator: Laurin Rengifo Rengifo
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Canchala Obando et al. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2026-07-14
publication date: 2026-07-14
doi: 10.15517/jas5ks25

Does Happiness Drive Fertility? Evidence from eleven countries
type: item
description: Introduction: We studied the effect of happiness on intended fertility using eleven countries. Happier people tended to have more intended fertility, and gender, age, and work status explained observed differences. Methodology: An exploratory quantitative approach was employed using data from 16,474 participants from the 2018 Global Family and Faith Survey across 11 countries. The relationship between happiness and intended fertility was examined through descriptive statistics and frequency histograms to assess variable distributions and identify overdispersion in the count data. Subsequently, a negative binomial regression model —a generalized Poisson model incorporating Gamma-distributed random effects— was estimated to evaluate the effect of happiness and sociodemographic variables on the intended number of additional children. Results: Different initial parities allowed observing the differences in the distribution and determinants of the number of children respondents wanted to have, conditional to happiness. At parity zero having a stable partner and belonging to the Latin American region became significant. Conclusions: Having a stable partner exerted a positive influence, while respondents in Latin America are willing to have less children than those of other world regions. Work status is not significant or parity one respondents. For parity two, only age and gender mattered, not happiness. Happiness, gender, age, and having a stable partner are again relevant variables at parity three. Implications: These findings shed light on the debate on current intended fertility determinants at low and lowest low scenarios of fertility around the world.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: intended fertility
  topic: keywords
subject: happiness
  topic: keywords
subject: Latin America
  topic: keywords
creator: Iván Darío Moreno-Acero
creator: Andrés Salazar-Arango
creator: José Gómez-González
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Iván Darío Moreno-Acero, Andrés Salazar-Arango, José Gómez-González (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2026-07-14
publication date: 2026-07-14
doi: 10.15517/ekqat846

Epidemiological and conjunctural characterization of violence in Brazil from 2011 to 2020
type: item
description: Introduction: Violence is a complex phenomenon that affects individuals of different genders, ages, ethnicities and social classes, being considered an important public health problem in Brazil and in the world. Methodology: Study with a quantitative, epidemiological and analytical approach, whose objective was to characterize the main indicators and the way they are associated with violence in Brazil according to their forms, means and circumstances of occurrence, from 2011 to 2020. A dendrogram was produced through the combined application of Multiple Correspondence Analysis and Hierarchical Clustering techniques, characterizing the main profiles associated with violence in Brazil. Results: Violence is established as a complex and multicausal phenomenon, which results not only in high public expenditures, but mainly in the reduction of social cohesion due to the immeasurable damage caused to the population involved. In the present study, the violence is mostly of the physical type, affecting adult females, with low schooling and white or brown. Recurrence occurs mainly when the violence is psychological and sexual. As for the aggressor, they are usually adults, male, and the use of alcohol is common. An important participation of the Southeast region was observed in the notifications of all forms of violence. Conclusions: The magnitude and severity of the problem is brought into question, which must be investigated regionally and in a segmented manner, according to the type of violence. Thus, it infers that spending on violence prevention can mitigate economic, social and psychological problems in Brazil.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Violence
  topic: keywords
subject: Social determinants of health
  topic: keywords
subject: Public health
  topic: keywords
subject: Analytical epidemiology
  topic: keywords
creator: Marcos Vinicius Teixeira Martins
creator: Veronica Perius de Brito
creator: Alice Mirane Malta Carrijo
creator: Stefan Vilges de Oliveira
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Marcos Vinicius Teixeira Martins, Veronica Perius de Brito, Alice Mirane Malta Carrijo, Stefan Vilges de Oliveira https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2023-06-30
publication date: 2023-06-30
doi: 10.15517/psm.v21i1.52900

Epidemiological profile of tuberculosis in the prison population of Minas Gerais, Brazil
type: item
description: Introduction: Tuberculosis is the major cause of health problems among communicable diseases and predominates as an etiology in cases of death from a single infectious agent. In the prison environment, this is even more evident, as overcrowding, poor nutrition, drug consumption and the coexistence of other diseases, associated with the precariousness of the health service, favors the spread of the disease within the walls and to the families of inmates. Currently, it is estimated that the incidence of tuberculosis in the population deprived of liberty corresponds to approximately 11.2% of new cases in the country, and this group represents only 0.3% of the Brazilian population. Methods: In this context, the present study aims to carry out an epidemiological analysis of tuberculosis in the prison population of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, based on secondary data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), in addition to identifying the main factors related to this type of involvement using measures of dispersion, central tendency and frequency, as well as Student’s T tests for independent samples and Mann-Whitney U tests in cases where the assumptions for parametric tests were not met, considering a 95 % confidence interval. Results: 1880 cases of tuberculosis were registered, with a monthly average of 22.38 notifications. The proximity of the factors brown ethnicity, male sex, age between 20 and 29 years to the center of case density and between the use of alcohol, other drugs and the abandonment of treatment was notable. Conclusion: Thus, the need for new prevention strategies in this context is highlighted due to the high incidence of tuberculosis, often related to negligence and misinformation.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Tuberculosis
  topic: keywords
subject: Prisons
  topic: keywords
subject: Epidemiology
  topic: keywords
subject: Public policy
  topic: keywords
creator: Marcos Vinicius Teixeira Martins
creator: Márcio Cesário Cunha Sobrinho
creator: Gabriel Machado de Souza
creator: Stefan Vilges de Oliveira
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Marcos Vinicius Teixeira Martins, Márcio Cesário Cunha Sobrinho, Gabriel Machado de Souza, Stefan Vilges de Oliveira https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2022-12-08
publication date: 2022-12-08
doi: 10.15517/psm.v20i2.50840

Bioavailability of phosphorus in food and its effect in chronic kidney disease
type: item
description: Introduction: to know the importance of the investigations that relate the bioavailability of phosphorus in different groups of foods of animal, vegetable and industrialized origin and its effect on the progression in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Methodology: the review is based on a literary search that was carried out on web pages such as: PUBMED, Redalyc, SciELO, SCIHUB and Google Academic. Each of the studies was selected discarding those that were not quantitative, original, complete, with clear methodology, carried out in mammals, and that in their results specified the bioavailability of phosphorus in percentages. All the studies were read, placing main emphasis and interest on the percentage of phosphorus bioavailability when consuming different food groups. Three matrices were made according to the origin of the food and the bioavailability of phosphorus that is absorbed in the body; grouping them into foods of animal, vegetable and industrialized origin and additives. Results: it was found that industrialized foods and additives show a phosphorus bioavailability of 90-100%, those of animal origin 40-80%, those of plant origin 30%. Conclusions: The additives used in industrialized foods promote hyperphosphatemia and thus accelerate the progression of chronic kidney disease, unlike foods of animal and vegetable origin that are less harmful to health. This guides the training of the health sector, expanding its knowledge in the nutritional treatment of the patient.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: chronic kidney disease
  topic: keywords
subject: bioavailability
  topic: keywords
subject: organic and inorganic phosphorus
  topic: keywords
subject: foods of plant and industrialized animal origin
  topic: keywords
creator: Eduardo Martínez Hernández
creator: Rodolfo A. De La Luz Maya
creator: María De Los Á. Ramírez Robledo
creator: Gabriela K. Núñez-Murillo
creator: Claudia Nelly Orozco González
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Eduardo Martínez Hernández, Rodolfo A. De La Luz Maya, María De Los Á. Ramírez Robledo, Gabriela K. Núñez-Murillo, Claudia Nelly Orozco González https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-12-13
publication date: 2021-12-13
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.46292

Epidemiological analysis of Aids cases in Southeastern Brazil from 2010 to 2019
type: item
description: Introduction: The HIV and Aids epidemic represents one of the biggest public health problems today. In Brazil, it is estimated that only 83 % of people living with HIV know their diagnosis and only 46 % have an undetectable viral load. This highlights the need for studies aimed at understanding HIV and Aids in Brazil, to improve public policies. Thus, this study aims to conduct a survey of data on the epidemiological profile of Aids patients in Southeast Brazil. Methods: It is a descriptive, quantitative epidemiological study. The data was extracted from SINAN. The analysis was restricted to the period from January 2010 to June 2019. Results: In the analyzed period, 2017 had the highest prevalence of the disease (11,97 %). In addition, there was an increase in the number of cases between 2010 and 2014 and a drop over the last few years. Rio de Janeiro was the state with the highest number of new cases (21,90 %) in the Southeast Region. Results: The groups with the highest incidence of cases were: man (71,1 %), young and adults (79,37 %), white (46,67 %), high school graduates (19,71 %) and heterosexuals (46,94 %). However, a relative increase in incidence was observed among homosexual men and among browns. Also, sexual transmission was the most prevalent (78,09 %). Conclusion: The study concluded that more research on the topic is needed, to monitor the epidemiology of Aids and to guide efficient government measures.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
  topic: keywords
subject: HIV Infections
  topic: keywords
subject: Retroviridae
  topic: keywords
subject: Epidemiology
  topic: keywords
creator: Isabela Martins Rodrigues
creator: Bárbara Martins Faria
creator: Leticia Verri Marquez
creator: Uriel da Silva Pires
creator: Vinícius Ferreira Rende
creator: William Nicoleti Turazza da Silva
creator: Stefan Vilges de Oliveira
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Isabela Martins Rodrigues, Bárbara Martins Faria, Leticia Verri Marquez, Uriel da Silva Pires, Vinícius Ferreira Rende, William Nicoleti Turazza da Silva, Stefan Vilges de Oliveira https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-12-03
publication date: 2021-12-03
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.46802

Trajectories of frailty and related factors of elderly people in Mexico
type: item
description: Introduction. Frailty is an indicator of health status in old age and a common clinical syndrome in older adults that carries an increased risk of poor health outcomes, including falls, incidents of disability, hospitalization, and mortality. This study aimed to identify the different trajectories of frailty and the factors related to frailty among Mexican older adults over time. Methods: Data are from a four-wave panel composed of older Mexican adults from 2001 to 2015 of the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS). Frailty is the accumulation of deficits using a frailty index. A multilevel analysis, using hierarchical models, was applied to know the changes of frailty trajectories and what factors are related to it. Results. Being female, older, being widowhood, and having a lower level of education were risk factors for having a high frailty index and lower financial satisfaction doing activities at home have adverse effects. Conclusion. The findings of this work present information about the prevalence of frailty considering the proportion of deficits that individuals possess and their main associated components in older Mexican adults. It is necessary to improve socioeconomic health conditions in phases before old age to avoid developing frailty in the future.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Frailty index
  topic: keywords
subject: Social determinants of health
  topic: keywords
subject: MHAS
  topic: keywords
subject: Life Course
  topic: keywords
subject: Elderly people
  topic: keywords
subject: Longitudinal study
  topic: keywords
subject: Aging
  topic: keywords
subject: Multilevel Analysis
  topic: keywords
subject: Sex differences
  topic: keywords
creator: Abigail Vanessa Rojas Huerta
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Abigail Vanessa Rojas Huerta https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2022-01-01
publication date: 2022-01-01
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.46929

Effectiveness of «Universal Newborn Hearing Screening program» of Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social, in detecting deafness in children, from 2016 to 2018
type: item
description: Introduction: Hearing screening is a detection method, its objective is to provide an early intervention that allows reducing the negative consequences of an eventual hearing impairment, in the integral development of the infant. Costa Rica has implemented a universal neonatal hearing screening program in the public health system, where the hearing of every child born in the country is examined before the first month of life. Although multiple benefits have been perceived, it is important to demonstrate with scientific evidence if it accomplishes its objectives. Methodology: the effectiveness of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program in Costa Rica was analyzed, based on the information recorded from 37,656 children evaluated since 2016 to 2018, through empirical contrast using both descriptive techniques: frequency distribution of variables, as well as the use of inferential tests: chi square and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: 71 % of the sample was between 0 and 3 days old at the moment of being examined. Its performance over time and extension to different health centers has been satisfactory, likewise, the number of infants evaluated has been up to 98 % of the population. Conclusions: the TANU program is effective in most of the aspects analyzed, the identification of risk factors and the early detection of hearing disorders are outstanding, however, improvements are proposed in relation to the handling of information.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Newborn Hearing Screening
  topic: keywords
subject: Otoacoustic Emissions
  topic: keywords
subject: Auditory Brainstem Evoked Responses
  topic: keywords
subject: Audiology
  topic: keywords
creator: Leiner Rodríguez González
creator: Ana Laura Zeledón Díaz
creator: Óscar Centeno Mora
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Leiner Rodríguez González, Ana Laura Zeledón Díaz, Óscar Centeno Mora https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-12-10
publication date: 2021-12-10
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.47144

Excess mortality in Mexico 2020: a preliminary estimate at national and state level
type: item
description: As a direct or indirect consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, joint other public health problems, Mexico is one of the most affected countries in terms of excess mortality, which is generalized and heterogeneous at the state level. That is why, the paper’s aim is to quantify it at national and subnational level both through the percentage of excess mortality (% EM) and using differences in life expectancies (EMex) by sex. For (EMex) , mortality tables are constructed with specific rates that are estimated through a non-parametric approach so-called controlled and segmented smoothing. The results show the greatest excesses in male population and for some states of the country. Likewise, regarding EMex, strong setbacks in life expectancy can be observed including the Mexico City.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: mortality excess
  topic: keywords
subject: COVID-19
  topic: keywords
subject: life expectancy
  topic: keywords
subject: smoothing
  topic: keywords
subject: Mexico
  topic: keywords
creator: Jose Eliud Silva Urrutia
creator: Andrea Peralta
creator: Eric Peralta
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Jose Eliud Silva Urrutia, Andrea Peralta, Eric Peralta https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-11-30
publication date: 2021-11-30
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.47247

Prenatal care and social determinants: ecological study in Argentina
type: item
description: Introduction: the prenatal care is a key aspect in public health, with great impact in maternal and perinatal health, as well as in other stages of the life cycle. The features of the prenatal care could be variable between and within countries, and be related to social determinants. The aim of this study was to identify socio-sanitary scenarios of prenatal care, and to analyze associations between social determinants and selected synthetic indicators of prenatal care in Argentina (2010-2018). Methodology: A multi-group ecological study (n=24 jurisdictions) was developed. The data were obtained from secondary sources: the latest available data of the Perinatal Informatics’ System (2018) and national census (2010). A hierarchical and agglomerative cluster analysis was carried out (Ward's method). The spatial distribution of the scenarios was illustrated by a map. ANOVA test was applied to assess the differences between the identified scenarios. To estimate associations between social indicators and indicators of prenatal care, linear regression models were applied. Results: five socio-sanitary scenarios of prenatal care were identified, which reveal heterogeneities in the distribution of prenatal and social care indicators. In addition, the percentage of households living in poverty presented a direct association, and the human development index and life expectancy at birth an inverse association with insufficient prenatal care. Conclusions: different socio-sanitary scenarios exist in Argentina, and some social characteristics of the contexts in which people live might underlie its configuration.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: prenatal care
  topic: keywords
subject: social determinants of health
  topic: keywords
subject: socio-sanitary scenarios
  topic: keywords
creator: Natalia Tumas
creator: Ana Carolina Godoy
creator: Virginia Peresini
creator: María Eugenia Peisino
creator: Gisela Boldrini
creator: Gaetano Vaggione
creator: Gabriel Esteban Acevedo
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Natalia Tumas, Ana Carolina Godoy, Virginia Peresini, María Eugenia Peisino, Gisela Boldrini, Gaetano Vaggione, Gabriel Esteban Acevedo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-12-10
publication date: 2021-12-10
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.47439

A public policy proposal: organ donation culture program in Morelia, Michoacán, México
type: item
description: Although in our times organ transplantation is already a routine medical procedure that represents in most of cases the only alternative for waiting list patients continue living, the problem in the city of Morelia, Michoacán, is similar to that which occurs around the world, the lack of organ donation culture, do not let people in favor of it, put into practice their preferences, showing a high percentage of family rejections when consent for donation is requested. The objective of this work was the design of a public policy using the rational approach, with the Logical Framework Matrix methodology, resulting in a proposal for a post mortem organ donation culture program in Morelia, Michoacán, in order to reduce these refusals and improve the level of organ donations and transplants.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: organ donation
  topic: keywords
subject: culture
  topic: keywords
subject: public policy
  topic: keywords
subject: Logical Framework Matrix
  topic: keywords
creator: América Ivonne Zamora Torres
creator: Yesica Díaz Barajas
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 América Ivonne Zamora Torres, Yesica Díaz Barajas https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-12-13
publication date: 2021-12-13
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.47453

The impact of the antibiotic resistance on the sustainable development
type: item
description: Antibiotic resistance (AR) is an increasingly complex public health problem, considered one of the greatest threats globally. The development of AR in bacterial pathogens is an expected consequence of evolutionary adaptation due to antimicrobials contamination in the environment. However, multiple factors are associated with the emergence and dissemination of AR, including excessive and poorly regulated use of antibiotics in human and animal medicine, agriculture, livestock, and industry, among other fields. The role of the environment as a reservoir for the generation and dissemination of AR genes and AR bacteria has recently been indicated. The approach to contain and control this problem involves multiple disciplines such as human and animal medicine, the environment, the industry, and the economy. This article describes the AR problem, the factors associated with its origin, and the multidisciplinary approach proposed for its management at a global level. Also, it will be described how AR affects sustainable development according to the UN 2030 Agenda, in compliance with some of the sustainable development goals.
subject: Special Section: INISA, 45 years caring for the health of Costa Rica
  topic: section
subject: Drug resistance
  topic: keywords
subject: sustainable development
  topic: keywords
subject: UNA health
  topic: keywords
subject: environmental pollution
  topic: keywords
subject: infectious diseases
  topic: keywords
creator: Kenia Barrantes Jiménez
creator: Luz Chacón Jiménez
creator: María Arias Andrés
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Kenia Barrantes Jiménez, Luz Chacón Jiménez, María Arias Andrés https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-11-10
publication date: 2021-11-10
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.47590

Presentation
type: item
description: The Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud of the University of Costa Rica has contributed to the promotion of human health through scientific research, teaching and social action since 1974, when the creation of an institute for research on human health was proposed by recommendation of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICIT).
subject: Special Section: INISA, 45 years caring for the health of Costa Rica
  topic: section
subject: presentation
  topic: keywords
creator: Melina Montero López
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Melina Montero López https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2022-01-01
publication date: 2022-01-01
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.49444

Editorial: Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud 45 years caring for Costa Rica
type: item
description: The Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA), of the University of Costa Rica, is a multidisciplinary unit that for 45 years has been conducting research in four major fields: human genetics, cancer, aging and the interaction between nutrition and infection processes.
subject: Special Section: INISA, 45 years caring for the health of Costa Rica
  topic: section
subject: editorial
  topic: keywords
creator: Carolina Santamaría-Ulloa
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Carolina Santamaría-Ulloa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2022-01-01
publication date: 2022-01-01
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.49443

Capacity of the foods included in the Basic Tax Basket of Costa Rica to satisfy the nutritional requirements of the quintile with less incomes
type: item
description: On a national level, several regulations have been developed with the aim of protecting the economically most vulnerable sectors of the population. One of these regulations is the Costa Rica’s Basic Tax Basket Regulations (CBT by the Spanish acronym for Canasta Básica Tributaria), which establishes a decrease in the tax burden on food consumed by the most vulnerable population of the 2013 National Household Income and Expense Survey (ENIGH by the Spanish acronym for Encuesta Nacional de Ingresos y Gastos de los Hogares). The objective of this research is to compare the nutritional value of the foods included in the CBT and the nutritional requirements of the first quintile members of the 2013 ENIGH. The research is quantitative and co-relational in type. The sample is the first income quantile of the ENIGH of 2013 and is composed of healthy adults with ages between 19 and 60. The analysis was made during the first four months of 2020, using an instrument formulated in Excel, in which meal plans are formulated only with the foods that are part of the CBT, to calculate the content of energy, macronutrients, saturated fatty acids, fiber, calcium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin E and vitamin D. The results determined that 46% of CBT foods are classified as source or good source of some of the studied nutrients. As well as 6 of the 11 studied nutrients are satisfactorily adapted to the requirements of the population. The results allow to conclude that with the foods included in the CBT, an adequately balanced meal plan can be formulated, because excess or deficiency of nutrients found in the meal plan are not considered harmful to the health.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Food Legislation in Costa Rica
  topic: keywords
subject: Food and Nutrition Security
  topic: keywords
subject: Food Supply
  topic: keywords
subject: Nutritional Requirements
  topic: keywords
subject: Food Analysis
  topic: keywords
creator: Katalina Peraza Garita
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Katalina Peraza Garita https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-12-06
publication date: 2021-12-06
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.43258

Precarious Work and Health Care among Working-Class Men in Buenos Aires, Argentina
type: item
description: Introduction: We analyze the relation between work and health drawing on the labor experiences of adult men who reside in a working-class neighborhood located in the periphery of Buenos Aires City. More specifically, we analyze how precarious jobs impact on their psychophysical health through work conditions that expose them to diverse risks and deprivations for quality of life and health care. Methodology: Data come from qualitative, in-depth, interviews that we conducted with adult men as part of a larger study on health care with residents of the neighborhood. Results: Precarious jobs affect health in various ways. Some of the interviewees have been exposed to physical and psychosocial risks due to the work conditions and environment in the workplace. The negative consequences that precarious jobs have for quality of life are also salient, by limiting their capability to plan ahead, organize everyday life and develop self-care practices. Conclusions: We highlight the importance of considering precarious work as a social determinant of health, since it is a multidimensional trait that helps to analyze its negative consequences on working-class men. We also point to the adverse consequences for health of precarious jobs throughout the life-course, in part, due to age-based chronic conditions but also due to the cumulative disadvantages produced by precarious and vulnerable work trajectories.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: precarious work
  topic: keywords
subject: health
  topic: keywords
subject: lower-class
  topic: keywords
subject: men
  topic: keywords
creator: Betina Freidin
creator: Mercedes Krause
creator: Matías Salvador Ballesteros
creator: Agustín David Wilner
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Betina Freidin, Mercedes Krause, Matías Salvador Ballesteros, Agustín David Wilner https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-12-03
publication date: 2021-12-03
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.47295

Social Return on the investment of the elimination of the vertical transmission of Chagas, HIV / AIDS, HB and Syphilis: Case of a Municipality of the Province of Buenos Aires
type: item
description: Introduction: we seek to quantify the returns on investment associated with an intervention in the public health system of a Municipality of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. This intervention consists of strengthening the strategy for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Infection, Syphilis, Congenital Chagas Disease and Perinatal Hepatitis B Infection, a strategy called ETMI-PLUS. Methodology: the study (quantitative) is based on the Social Return on Investment (RSI) methodology. Ad-hoc definitions are established for the measurement of returns based on the information available from various sources: primary information from the Ministry of Health of the MAB; rates of congenital transmission of each disease reported to the National Health Surveillance System; detailed budgets of the resources assigned to the project by Fundación Mundo Sano and costs of treatments and supplies from official nomenclators. Results: for each argentinean peso invested in strengthening the ETMI-PLUS in the MAB, a return of almost 4 pesos would have been obtained thanks to the improvements in the vertical elimination of the 4 diseases and the reduction of cardiac complications in pregnant women. Conclusions: these results suggest the existence of a return / investment relationship favorable to the intervention, analyzed under a conservative analysis since savings for the health system are exclusively included and other dimensions of returns associated with improvements in results are excluded.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Chagas Disease
  topic: keywords
subject: HIV
  topic: keywords
subject: Hepatitis B
  topic: keywords
subject: Congenital Syphilis
  topic: keywords
subject: Vertical Transmission of Infectious Disease
  topic: keywords
creator: Malena Monteverde
creator: Constanza Silvestrini
creator: Ana Cristina Pereiro
creator: Tamara Wolovich
creator: Mariana Ceriotto
creator: Juan Manuel Castelli
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Malena Monteverde, Constanza Silvestrini, Ana Cristina Pereiro, Tamara Wolovich, Mariana Ceriotto, Juan Manuel Castelli https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-10-21
publication date: 2021-10-21
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.46466

Impact in the integral health of the workers the area technology of the information who make home office during Covid -19
type: item
description: Introduction: With the social isolation imposed by the Covid 19 pandemic, teleworking in the home office modality has been an alternative used by some companies. Objective: To determine the impact of this remote work on the integral health of workers. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out, through the "Google Forms" platform, a semi-structured questionnaire was elaborated that was sent to 150 information technology workers from a medium-sized municipality in the state of São Paulo, to obtain information on the variables: age, sex, working conditions, oral and systemic health, oral hygiene habits, musculoskeletal pain, physical exercises and emotional state. Results: Of the total of 116 responses received, 87.07% belonged to the male sex, 100% reported concern with their oral and general health, 56.03% reported changes in their eating habits, 44.83% increased food consumption and 77.58% reported feeling concerned and anxious. The prevalence of painful musculoskeletal symptomatology manifested in 100% of workers predominantly found in the cervical region (53.44%). In general, low frequency of physical activity and inadequate conditions for home work performance were corroborated. Conclusions: The change from the usual work routine to the home office modality (teleworking) significantly impacted the health of information technology workers. Given the possibility of maintaining this modality of remote work to reduce the exposure and spread of the virus, it is necessary to adopt strategies to preserve the integral health of these professionals.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: COVID- 19
  topic: keywords
subject: occupational health
  topic: keywords
subject: working conditions
  topic: keywords
subject: information technology
  topic: keywords
subject: teleworking
  topic: keywords
creator: Maria Elizabeth Pena Téllez
creator: Suzely Adas Saliba Moimaz
creator: Artênio José Isper Garbin
creator: Tânia Adas Saliba
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Maria Elizabeth Pena Téllez, Suzely Adas Saliba Moimaz, Artênio José Isper Garbin, Tânia Adas Saliba https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-10-21
publication date: 2021-10-21
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.46502

(Ine)quality in Healthcare: a perspective from the accreditation of clinical laboratories in Costa Rica
type: item
description: Introduction: Given the relevance of quality-assured laboratory services for health system strengthening and improvement, this study had the objective of exploring the distribution of ISO 15189-accredited and non-accredited laboratories in Costa Rica, in order to identify possible gaps in the fulfillment of its commitment to provide ‘quality healthcare for all’. Methods: Our research was conducted with a descriptive scope and following a quantitative approach. Costa Rica’s Accreditation Body and College of Microbiologists databases were searched to collect data regarding clinical laboratory registration and ISO 15189 accreditation status. Laboratory availability indicators by geographical division were computed with this data. Results: Out of 480 clinical laboratories allowed to operate in Costa Rica as of January 2021, only 5 (about 1%) have been accredited in compliance with ISO 15189, all of which are private and located in the province of San José. Also, laboratory density (in terms of facilities per 100 km2 and per 100 000 population) is heterogeneous among provinces. Clinical laboratory services are more easily available in ‘central’ provinces of the country (e.g. San José and Heredia), where ratios for laboratory density are higher. On the contrary, coastal provinces such as Limón and Puntarenas exhibit low laboratory density ratios, reflecting geographical disparities in access to healthcare. Conclusions: Geographic disparities in the access to clinical laboratory services were observed. This should raise awareness among public health authorities and private healthcare providers regarding the country’s progress in attaining its ‘quality healthcare for all’ commitment.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: Accreditation
  topic: keywords
subject: Clinical Laboratory Services
  topic: keywords
subject: Quality of Healthcare
  topic: keywords
subject: Costa Rica
  topic: keywords
creator: Daniel Quesada-Yamasaki
creator: Raúl Zeledón-Mayorga
rights: Copyright (c) 2021 Daniel Quesada-Yamasaki https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-10-19
publication date: 2021-10-19
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.46535

Health as a social representation: The phenomenon of health within the daily life of nicaraguan migrants in Costa Rica
type: item
description: Introduction: Health is loaded with symbolisms and practical manifestations that differ according to social groups and sociocultural contexts. In order to make everyday life and needs visible, the Theoretical Paradigm of Social Representations provides the theoretical-methodological bases necessary to understand the common sense knowledge associated with health among the Nicaraguan migrant population in Costa Rica. Methodology: Qualitative study with ethnographic approach that aimed to identify the social representation of health, through the process of objectification, present among Nicaraguan migrants living in Costa Rica. Data collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and field diaries. Processing according to Content Analysis. Results: The social representation of health found behaves analogously to a formula; where, the search for peaceful environments is added to the achievement of financial stability to result in two interdependent representations: 1) Health as physical-mental strength; and 2) Health as a future and abstract sensation of well-being, happiness and transcendence. The socio-political antecedents in Nicaragua, the migratory process, and the adaptation to Costa Rica play a preponderant role in shaping the representation on health. Conclusion: Social representations about health have direct practical implications on the ways of life and needs of migrant groups. Understanding their common sense knowledge allows to move towards more contextualized public policies. More integration of the thoughts, opinions and feelings of migrants in decision-making platforms is recommended.
subject: Scientific articles
  topic: section
subject: health
  topic: keywords
subject: social representations
  topic: keywords
subject: migrant population
  topic: keywords
subject: social behavior
  topic: keywords
subject: Nicaragua
  topic: keywords
subject: Costa Rica.
  topic: keywords
creator: Wendel Mora-Rivera
rights: Copyright (c) 2021 Wendel Mora-Rivera https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-10-19
publication date: 2021-10-19
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.46309

Inequalities in the early detection of cervical cancer: a reality in the Costa Rica
type: item
description: Introduction: Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancer types that affects the health of women worldwide. Objective: To determine if there are differences in the use of Pap smears at the regional level in Costa Rica, in order to visualize the inequalities related to the early detection of cervical-uterine cancer. Methodology. This study was conducted based on information from the 2014 National Household Survey. This survey is representative at the national level. R-Studio was used to estimate two multinomial regression models. The first one was used to explain the time that has elapsed since the last time women had a Pap smear. The second one was used to explain the reasons why women had never had a Pap smear. Data on the incidence of cervical cancer, from the National Tumor Registry of the Ministry of Health, were used in order to estimate the in-situ/invasive ratio. Results: Women who participate less regularly in screening are those residing in the Chorotega, Central Pacific and Huetar Caribbean regions. Compared to women in the Central region, women in these three regions are 80% (OR=1.80; p<0.01), 52% (OR=1.52; p=0.031) and 58% (OR=1.58; p<0.01) respectively more likely to have had a Pap screening 5 or more years ago, as compared to 1 to 2 years ago. Discussion: According to the results of this research, the Chorotega Region presents the most disadvantageous conditions in terms of the use of PAP, which represents a higher risk for women to develop lesions and cervical cancer. Conclusions: In order to reduce gaps and improve conditions of access to prevention, it is necessary to coordinate institutional efforts, both governmental and non-governmental, as well as the participation and protagonism of women.
subject: Special Section: INISA, 45 years caring for the health of Costa Rica
  topic: section
subject: cervical cancer
  topic: keywords
subject: PAP smaer
  topic: keywords
subject: Inequalities in health
  topic: keywords
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Carolina Santamaría-Ulloa, Melina Montero-López, Hazel Quesada-Leitón, Ileana Quirós-Rojas https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-12-07
publication date: 2021-12-07
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.48122

Exploratory multigroup structural equation modeling approach to analyzing H. pylori infection, serological pepsinogen levels, and life style factors in an elderly population in Costa Rica.
type: item
description: The aim of this work is to describe and analyze the association of PGI/PGII ratio (indicator of gastric atrophy) with H. pylori-CagA and life style factors such as caloric intake, obesity, and harmful habits amongst H. pylori-positive elderly people infected in Costa Rica using an exploratory multigroup structural equations model (SEM). Using a sample of 1748 H. pylori-positive elderly people from CRELES first wave study, a SEM was employed analyze if the relationships between PGI/PGII ratio with levels of H. pylori-CagA, caloric intake, obesity, and harmful habits, differs by sex, age and risk areas subgroups. The proposed SEMs exhibited a good fit in males (RMSEA = 0.039), females (RMSEA = 0.000), low-risk area (RMSEA = 0.038), middle-risk area (RMSEA = 0.042), individuals under 80 years (RMSEA = 0.038) and individuals aged 80 and over (RMSEA = 0.042), while an acceptable fit was observed for the high-risk area (RMSEA = 0.061). Fitted SEMs showed that CagA predicted PG-ratio as expected, with effects increasing with the risk area, but similar between sex and age groups. All indicators measuring obesity (BMI, arms, and waist) showed significant standardized coefficients, with similar effects between sex, age and risk area groups. No other significant effects or differences between groups were identified. We propose a good-fitted SEM model for the possible relationships between CagA and PG ratio and the geographical risk area level for elderly people. No differences were observed on measured parameters between male and female population, or between under 80 years and older individuals.
subject: Special Section: INISA, 45 years caring for the health of Costa Rica
  topic: section
subject: Atrophic gastritis
  topic: keywords
subject: CagA
  topic: keywords
subject: Serum pepsinogens
  topic: keywords
subject: Multigroup SEM
  topic: keywords
subject: Elderly people
  topic: keywords
subject: Costa Rica
  topic: keywords
subject: Structural equations model
  topic: keywords
creator: Gabriel Molina-Castro
creator: Stefany Matarrita-Muñoz
creator: Silvia Elena Molina-Castro
creator: Ericka Méndez-Chacón
creator: Clas Une
creator: Vanessa Ramírez-Mayorga
rights: Copyright (c) 2021 Gabriel Molina-Castro, Stefany Matarrita-Muñoz, Silvia Elena Molina-Castro, Ericka Méndez-Chacón, Clas Une, Vanessa Ramírez-Mayorga https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-12-07
publication date: 2021-12-07
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.48113

Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen concentrations in an elderly population representative of Costa Rica
type: item
description: INTRODUCTION: Costa Rica has among the highest mortality rates from gastric cancer in the world, largely due to late detection. It is therefore important that economically and logistically sustainable screening is implemented in order to detect risk of developing cancer. We have previously shown that low pepsinogen (PG) values and infection with Helicobacter pylori-CagA+ are associated with risk of gastric atrophy and cancer in Costa Rican populations. OBJECTIVES: To determine how markers for gastric cancer risk are distributed in an elderly population representative of Costa Rica in order to design a screening strategy. METHODS: The population studied consists of 2,652 participants in a nationally representative survey of ageing. Information concerning epidemiologic, demographic, nutritional and life style factors is available. Serum PG concentrations as well as H. pylori and CagA status were determined by serology. Possible associations were determined by regression analyses. RESULTS: Antibodies to H. pylori were present in 72% of the population and of those, 58% were CagA positive. Infection with H. pylori was associated with higher PGI concentrations (p=0.000) and infection with H. pylori-CagA+ with lower PGI concentrations (p=0.025). Both showed association with lower PGI/PGII (p=0.006 and p=0.000). Higher age was associated with lower prevalence of H. pylori infection (OR=0.98; p=0.000) and CagA+ (OR=0.98; p=0.000) but not with PG values. Regions with high risk of gastric cancer showed lower PGI (p=0.004) and PGI/PGII values (p=0.021) as well as higher prevalence of H. pylori infection (OR=1.39; p=0.013) but not CagA+. Using cut-off values of PGI<100 µg/L and PGI/PGII<2.0, 2.5 and 3.0, 7-15% of the population would be considered at risk. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori alone is not a useful marker for risk of gastric cancer. Screening using serum pepsinogen concentrations and infection with H. pylori-CagA+ is feasible in the general elderly population of Costa Rica but…
subject: Special Section: INISA, 45 years caring for the health of Costa Rica
  topic: section
subject: gastric cancer
  topic: keywords
subject: atrophic gastritis
  topic: keywords
subject: pepsinogens
  topic: keywords
subject: Helicobacter pylori
  topic: keywords
creator: Clas Une
creator: Wendy Malespín Bendaña
creator: Vanessa Ramírez-Mayorga
creator: Luis Rosero Bixby
creator: Rafaela Sierra Ramos
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Clas Une, Wendy Malespín Bendaña, Vanessa Ramírez-Mayorga, Luis Rosero Bixby, Rafaela Sierra Ramos (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2022-01-01
publication date: 2022-01-01
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.49405

Joint responsibility in health as the basis for an inter-institutional action plan: Addressing overweight and obesity in a Costa Rican population
type: item
description: The objective of this study is to describe the process of creating an inter-institutional action plan to address overweight and obesity in the population of mothers from the urban counties of Alajuelita and Escazu in Costa Rica. This research has a qualitative approach, is a descriptive transversal study, and uses a research-action methodology, which takes as participants the institutional actors of both counties, during a six-month time frame. The main results is the creation of an action plan for in each of the two counties. Process, product and result indicators are also proposed for each of the 4 work areas that were part of the action plan, It is concluded that joint responsibility in health is of vital importance for the creation of actions that seek to improve the health of the population, especially in communities in which there is significant political will from institutional actor, but there are few resources.
subject: Special Section: INISA, 45 years caring for the health of Costa Rica
  topic: section
subject: Health promotion
  topic: keywords
subject: Health planning
  topic: keywords
subject: Overweight
  topic: keywords
subject: Obesity
  topic: keywords
rights: Copyright (c) 2022 Melina Montero-López https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2026-06-12
publication date: 2026-06-12
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.48083

Identification of chromosomal aberrations in a Costa Rican children population with idiopathicintellectual disability
type: item
description: The prevalence of intellectual disability (ID) in the global population is 3%. One of the most frequent cause of ID are chromosome aberrations, which are easily detected by a karyotype. However, many of these maygoundetected during a conventional cytogenetic analysis because of their length.These small alterations can be localized in the subtelomeres and it has been observed that when localized there, they are an important cause of ID in patients without a causality diagnostic. In this observational study, we use the MLPA technique for the purpose of identifying the frequency of submicroscopicsubtelomere chromosomal aberrations in a population of people with ID of unknown origin. 70 samples were successfully analyzed with MLPA and we found one case with a microduplication in the 17p subtelomere for a frequency of 1,4%. Also,the karyotype was performed in 33cases, and we foundone case with a chromosome aberration that can be detect by microscope for a frequency of 3%. The subtelomeric chromosome aberration frequency was lower than expected as we compare our results with similar studies. Finally, with this work we conclude that the karyotype and the MLPA technique complement each other for approaching people with ID of unknown origin.
subject: Special Section: INISA, 45 years caring for the health of Costa Rica
  topic: section
subject: Subtelomeres
  topic: keywords
subject: MLPA
  topic: keywords
subject: Molecular cytogenetics
  topic: keywords
subject: Marker chromosome
  topic: keywords
rights: Copyright (c) 2021 Melissa Abarca Ramírez, Fernando Morales Montero, Rebeca Vindas Smith, Fernando Ortiz Morales https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-12-06
publication date: 2021-12-06
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.48088

Micronucleus assay as biomarker of DNA damage in population exposed to ionizing radiation
type: item
description: Introduction: Ionizing radiation (IR) is capable of causing DNA damage. For the evaluation of this phenomenon it is possible to use chromosomal aberrations as biomarkers. The “Cytokinesis-Block Micronucleus assay” (CBMN) is a cytogenetic technique that allows to demonstrate the effect of genotoxic agents. Proposition: in the present review, we will describe the molecular mechanisms involved in micronucleus radioinduction, the micronucleus technique and criteria for analysis, its applications within biological research and its extension in clinical research, with emphasis on its application as a biomarker of radioinduced genetic damage. Arguments for discussion: the CBMN is considered a reliable, simple and fast technique and there is evidence of its applicability in the evaluation of biological effects in occupationally exposed personnel and in isolated or large-scale radiological accidents. Conclusions: the CBMN a valuable tool in estimating radiological risk in populations exposed to low doses of IR, allowing to guide decision-making regarding prevention or mitigation of exposure to IR in populations involved. Similarly, the CBMN can be used in research in the field of radiobiology, as a means to describe the effects of ionizing radiation on DNA.
subject: Special Section: INISA, 45 years caring for the health of Costa Rica
  topic: section
subject: Micronuclei
  topic: keywords
subject: Cytokinesis-block
  topic: keywords
subject: Genotoxicity biomarkers
  topic: keywords
subject: Ionizing radiation
  topic: keywords
rights: Copyright (c) 2021 Fabio Andrés Chaves-Campos https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2021-12-06
publication date: 2021-12-06
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.48078

Circulation of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli associated virulence genes in Costa Rican Great Metropolitan Area wastewaters
type: item
description: Introduction: Diarrheic disease is one of the most important disease’s causes in children under five years. One of the most recognized etiological agents is Escherichia coli. This bacterium has the capacity of causing infections by multiple mechanisms associated with the acquisition of different virulence genes. Methodology: water samples were collected from the affluents and effluents of five wastewater treatment plants located in the Costa Rican Great Metropolitan Area, during three sequential days, in March, May, October, and December from 2013. The aim was to quantify E. coli's concentration by multiple tubes fermentation method and to evaluate the presence of aatA, bfpA, eaeA, ipaH, lt, st, stx1, and stx2 virulence genes, related with diarrheagenic E. coli, by PCR end-point method. Results: The study revealed that the levels of E. coli into the affluents are similar to those reported in other world regions. The effluent's concentration presented higher than 4 Log10 NMP/100 mL level of E. coli. A year-round circulation of virulence genes was demonstrated, and it was associated with enterotoxigenic, Shiga-toxin producers/ enterohemorrhagic, enteroaggregative, and enteropathogenic pathotypes. Genes related to enteroinvasive variety did not were detected. Not all wastewater treatment plants removed E. coli efficiently. Conclusions: Diarrheagenic E. coli circulation is common in our county with the possibility of dissemination to the environment by effluent's wastewater discharge in surface water bodies.
subject: Special Section: INISA, 45 years caring for the health of Costa Rica
  topic: section
subject: Bacteria
  topic: keywords
subject: Wastewater
  topic: keywords
subject: Bacterial diseases
  topic: keywords
subject: Sewage treatment
  topic: keywords
rights: Copyright (c) 2021 Luz María Chacón Jiménez, Karolina Hall Loría, Lic, Pablo César Rivera Navarro, Lic., Liliana Reyes Lizano, Dra., Rosario Achí Araya, Dra., Kenia Barrantes Jiménez, M.Sc. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
date: 2026-06-12
publication date: 2026-06-12
doi: 10.15517/psm.v19i2.48037