scholarly journals Urban violence and public health in Latin America: a sociological explanatory framework

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1629-1648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Briceño-León
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Interpersonal Violence ◽  
Drug Market ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
Urban Violence ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
American Cities ◽  
Social Level

Interpersonal violence has become one of the main public health issues in Latin American cities. This article presents a framework for sociological interpretation that operates on three levels, expressed in the factors that originate, foment, or facilitate violence. Macro-social factors include: social inequality due to the increase in wealth versus poverty; the paradox of more schooling with fewer employment opportunities; increasing expectations and the impossibility of meeting them; changes in family structure; and loss of importance of religion in daily life. At the meso-social level the analysis highlights: increased density in poor areas and urban segregation; masculinity cult; and changes in the local drug market. The micro-social level includes: an increase in the number of firearms; alcohol consumption; and difficulties in verbal expression of feelings. The article concludes with an analysis of how violence is leading to the breakdown not only of urban life but also of citizenship as a whole in Latin America.

Fractured lives in fractured cities: towards a critical Public Health approach to urban violence

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Borde
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Public Health Approach ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Urban Violence ◽  
Market Driven ◽  
Critical Public Health ◽  
American Cities

Abstract Background 43 of the 50 cities with the highest homicide rates worldwide are Latin American. Although the mechanisms through which urban violence is (re-)produced are complex, the inequalities that shape fragmented Latin American urban landscapes and define the patterns of urban violence have been forged by sociopolitical processes including market-driven urban restructuring processes in the realm of “actually existing” neoliberalism. The comparative case study on two neighborhoods in Bogotá and Rio de Janeiro seeks to contribute to the development of a critical Public Health approach to urban violence that moves beyond the description of death registries and the association of discrete risk factors. Methods The case studies are based on qualitative analyses of 4 focus groups and 46 semi-structured interviews with residents and specialists (2016 and 2019) using the Framework Method as well as comprehensive literature reviews. Results Both cases reveal nuanced processes through which urban violence is produced and reproduced by different actors and suggest that violence is inherent in the market-driven territorial making and un-making of increasingly “fragmented” cities. The cases suggest that violence is implied in threats of eviction, “necropolitical” police/military interventions and in the silent imposition of a “slow death” on urban infrastructure and entire neighborhoods, which bring about health consequences that include injuries but also shape other health problems. Both cases provide evidence to suggest selective and contradictory state presence that implies, admits or reinforces violence. Conclusions The cases combat simplistic readings of Latin American urban violence as a phenomenon exclusively related to confrontations between rival drug gangs and the police or aggressive individuals by revealing a great variety of actors and processes involved in (re-)producing urban violence that have serious implications for life and health in Latin American cities. Key messages Need for a critical Public Health approach to urban violence that moves beyond the description of death registries and the association of discrete risk factors. A great variety of actors and processes is involved in (re-) producing urban violence that have serious implications for life and health in Latin American cities.

scholarly journals Latin American Cities: From Subservient Reproductions to Intercontinental Dialogues

Humanities ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clovis Ultramari ◽  
Fernanda Cantarim ◽  
Manoela Jazar
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Graduate Programs ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
The Past ◽  
Academic Exchange ◽  
Scientific Institutions ◽  
American Cities ◽  
The City

This paper investigates the circulation of ideas regarding the city among selected countries in Latin America. It discusses convergences between academic and scientific institutions and investigative weakness in partnerships between Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. It identifies two historical moments: one of vertical dialogues between Latin America and central countries in the elaboration of urban plans (20th century) and another of contemporary academic exchange signalling a horizontal dialogue that is fragile and sporadic but distinct from those observed in the past. Empirical reference is obtained from the analysis of scientific events and papers published by distinguished post-graduate programs concerning urban topics in selected countries, during the time frame of 2000–2015. The methodological approach is based on a bibliographic review and content analysis. Results indicate that the old “one-way” of transfer of urban planning ideas from central countries to Latin America is changing; slowly, the continent has been growing more independent in terms of knowledge creation and circulation.

scholarly journals Smoking in Latin America: a major public health problem

1998 ◽  
Vol 14 (suppl 3) ◽  
pp. S109-S115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva ◽  
Sergio Koifman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Lung Cancer Mortality ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Tobacco Epidemic ◽  
Latin American Countries

Smoking has become a major public health problem in Latin America, and its scope varies from country to country. Despite difficulties in obtaining methodologically consistent data for the region, we analyzed the results from prevalence surveys in 14 Latin American countries. Smoking prevalence among men varied from 24.1% (Paraguay) to 66.3% (Dominican Republic) and among women from 5.5% (Paraguay) to 26,6% (Uruguay). By applying point prevalence data to the stage model of the tobacco epidemic in developed countries, we concluded that the Latin American countries are in stage 2, i.e., with a clearly rising prevalence among men, a prevalence for women that is beginning to increase, and mortality attributable to smoking among men still not reflecting peak prevalence. None of the countries analyzed appeared to have reached stage 3, in which one observes a downward trend in prevalence of smoking among men and peak prevalence among women, with broad impact on tobacco-related mortality. The only exception appears to be Paraguay, which is still emerging from stage 1, i.e., with low prevalence rates among men, too. Nevertheless, high lung cancer mortality rates in Uruguay and Argentina are comparable to those of the developed countries.

Public Health and Medicine in Latin America

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Emanuelle Birn
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Organizational Models ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
Global Health Policy ◽  
History Of ◽  
Medicine Today ◽  
Contemporary Context

The countries of Latin America are enormously diverse demographically, geographically, politically, economically, and culturally, yet they share certain features, providing coherence to thinking about the history of health and medicine in regional terms. This article throws light on more recent scholarship that shows considerable regional innovation and the worldwide reverberation of a range of ‘homegrown’ medical ideas and practices, public health policies, and health care organizational models. It addresses these developments, diversities, and congruities through five historical eras and thematic perspectives. Finally, it concludes with an analysis of historiographical approaches in the contemporary context, exploring the major challenges facing historians writing about Latin American health and medicine today, particularly the links between history and contemporary national and global health policy issues.

scholarly journals An Assessment of the Relationships between Extreme Weather Events, Vulnerability, and the Impacts on Human Wellbeing in Latin America

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 1802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo J. Nagy ◽  
Walter Leal Filho ◽  
Ulisses M. Azeiteiro ◽  
Johanna Heimfarth ◽  
José E. Verocai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Economic Determinants ◽  
Human Wellbeing ◽  
Weather Events

Climate change and variability are known to have an influence on human wellbeing in a variety of ways. In Latin America, such forces are especially conspicuous, particularly in respect of extreme climatological, hydrological, and weather events (EWEs) and climate-sensitive disasters (CSDs). Consistent with the need to study further such connections, this paper presents an analysis of some of the vulnerabilities of environmental health issues and climate-related impacts that are focusing on EWEs and CSDs in Latin American countries. The research includes an analysis of the (i) human and socio-economic development; (ii) geographical and socio-economic determinants of vulnerability and adaptability of environmental health issues (exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity); (iii) occurrence of CSDs from 1988 to 2017 and their direct impacts on human wellbeing (Total death and Affected people); (iv) an online survey on the perceptions of the effects of EWEs on human wellbeing in a sample of countries in the region; and (v) discussion of possible solutions. The socio-economic and development indices, and the International Disaster Database (EM-DAT) and Climate-Risk Index (CRI) disaster statistics suggest that the impacts of CSDs are primarily related to socio-economic determinants of human wellbeing and health inequalities. Also, >80% respondents to the survey say that the leading causes of climate-related human impacts are the lack of (i) public awareness; (ii) investment and (iii) preparedness. The paper concludes by adding some suggestions that show how countries in Latin America may better cope with the impacts of Climate-sensitive Disasters.

Hypertension in seven Latin American cities: the Cardiovascular Risk Factor Multiple Evaluation in Latin America (CARMELA) study

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Hernández-Hernández ◽  
Honorio Silva ◽  
Manuel Velasco ◽  
Fabio Pellegrini ◽  
Alejandro Macchia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk Factor ◽  
American Cities

Latin American taxi app competition to grow

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
El Salvador ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Taxi Drivers ◽  
Market Dominance ◽  
New Business ◽  
American Cities

Subject Taxi apps in Latin America. Significance Uber in El Salvador agreed on November 10 to abide by existing operating laws, after Vice Transport Minister Nelson Garcia warned that vehicles could be seized if they did not comply. Driver apps are controversial with traditional transport companies in Latin America, as elsewhere, and legislation often lags behind their new business model, exacerbating tensions with taxi drivers in particular. The service is nevertheless growing rapidly across the region, with local rivals positioning themselves to challenge Uber’s market dominance. Impacts Smartphone apps will grow even further in popularity because they address key needs for urban dwellers. Uber will struggle to shake off safety concerns in many Latin American cities in which it operates. Local rivals will consolidate further in an attempt to compete effectively with Uber.

Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires: Public Space and Public Consciousness in Fin-de-Siècle Latin America

1995 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey D. Needell
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Buenos Aires ◽  
Modern Architecture ◽  
Adequate Measure ◽  
The Past ◽  
Public Consciousness ◽  
American Cities

The Parisian Faubourg Saint Germain and perhaps the Rue de la Paix and the boulevards seemed the adequate measure of luxury to all of the snobs. The old colonial shell of the Latin American cities little approximated such scenery. The example of Baron de Haussmann and his destructive example strengthened the decision of the new bourgeoisies who wished to erase the past, and some cities began to transform their physiognomy: a sumptuous avenue, a park, a carriage promenade, a luxurious theater, modern architecture revealed that decision even when they were not always able to banish the ghost of the old city. But the bourgeoisies could nourish their illusions by facing one another in the sophisticated atmosphere of an exclusive club or a deluxe restaurant. There they anticipated the steps that would transmute “the great village” into a modern metropolis.—José Luis Romero

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